I watched two movies recently, The Drama and Good Fortune, that asked difficult questions (and provided interesting answers).
In Good Fortune, a down-on-his-luck gig job worker (Aziz Ansari) has the chance to switch places with a rich investor (Seth Rogen) thanks to an angel (Keanu Reeves). The angel is trying to teach Ansari that being wealthy isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be…but as it turns out, it’s still significantly better than his previous position.
It’s mostly a comedy–there are some good laughs–but it also asks some tough questions about how we make the most of our lives even when things aren’t going great and how the odds are stacked against those who survive paycheck to paycheck (but that it doesn’t need to be that way). I really enjoyed the movie and would recommend it.
In The Drama, a soon-to-be-married couple (played by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson) are convinced by another couple to share the worst thing they’ve ever done. They approach this conversation with humor–everyone is laughing at each other’s crazy stories–until one person reveals a wild confession. It’s truly out of left field–I had heard this conversation was the core hook of the movie, and there was no chance I could have guessed this.
So partially the tough question is, have you told your partner the worst thing you’ve ever done? And it’s partly: If your partner learned the worst thing you’ve ever done, how would it change the way they view you?
Of the two movies, I recommend both, though for different reasons. Good Fortune is a comedy that asks tough questions. The Drama will leave you incredibly uncomfortable while asking its questions.
What’s a movie or show you watched recently that made you think afterwards?